10. Short Debate: Free period products: The need to legislate to ensure that everyone who needs these products has access, wherever they live in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:41 pm on 9 November 2022.

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Photo of Sioned Williams Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru 6:41, 9 November 2022

This isn't only an issue of gender equality, but it's also an issue of social justice. We know that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting women disproportionately, and, according to a recent YouGov survey, one in eight people say they'll struggle to afford period products over the next year. And of course, periods are not a choice, and, for many women, they're a challenge—it affects their health, education, and sometimes their entire lives. Plan International found that 49 per cent of girls have missed at least one full day of school or college due to their period. It's important to note that that statistic is a UK-wide statistic, not Wales-specific. We perhaps do need more data on this, in order to fully address the issues that we've heard about this afternoon. If periods are seen as taboo and not discussed, girls won't feel comfortable asking for period products, and therefore are more likely to stay off school. Free sanitary products in workplace bathrooms can have an impact in terms of reducing absenteeism, because people aren't having to find excuses to go and buy period products or stay home because of their anxiety around having to cope with their period in work. So, periods are normal and natural, they should be a part of everyday school life, work life, and social life, and they should not have a negative effect on your life, wherever you live in Wales.